4/22/09

The Green Evolution is in full swing, and Earth Day is the perfect time to reflect on where we are and where we are trying to get to. Just think about how much more acceptance the green movement has now, even compared to last year. Consumers no longer hope they can buy a green product - they expect the products they buy to be green.

Housing is a great example - it’s exciting to see more and more builders using green practices as a standard part of their building. Energy Star appliances are more common than ever, and Whirpool has stepped to the front of the line with their commitment to making our world a better and healthier place to live.

Whirlpool’s focus on green is at every price level, and last week they were a major sponsor of the Manufactured Housing Industry Congress. They brought Mark LaLiberte to the event to educate participants about going green, and Mark did a fantastic job of explaining how just doing the small things can make a big difference.

At the International Builders Show in January they showed their Sustainable Kitchen. Beautiful, inviting, efficient and green! Going Green doesn’t have to mean having solar panels on every roof - it can be as simple as making the home you live in more energy efficient and purchasing the right Whirlpool appliances for your lifestyle.

There’s so much to talk about, and thanks to Whirlpool and advocates like Mark we’ll continue to have great accomplishments to talk about in the future.

4/21/09

So you say you want an evolution... well it looks like the Green Evolution is here, and here to stay. No matter what industry you are in, everyone seems to be getting on “The Green Train”. But what does this really mean to you, and the world you live in?

Defining Green is not an easy task, and the definition seems to be changing every day and mean different things to different people. It can be as simple as putting your trash in the appropriate container or as complex as an off-grid solar home. The important thing is that you do something and incorporate a green lifestyle into the way you live today and in the future.

I heard an excellent example this week at the Manufactured Housing Conference where we were blessed to have Mark LaLiberte as a speaker. He used the example of a green builder in Connecticut who was bragging about the great granite he was able to get inexpensively in China. Being that New Hampshire - the granite state - borders Connecticut Mark asked why he didn’t source the product there. Sometimes we have to look at issues besides price - think about all of the energy that was wasted getting the product from China as well as the jobs locally he might have saved - and those employees that might have become customers - and to me it puts a different spin on how we forgo value for price many times.

I see the greening of America as being an evolution instead of a revolution because it’s not going to happen overnight, but if everyone starts asking the question about what their choices are going to mean for ours and our families quality of life in the future hopefully we can start turning things around.

4/11/09

This has been a great week - we got 3 kittens adopted and have a wonderful neighbor that's willing to adopt a German Shepherd! It feels great to find loving homes for these animals and to educate people about adopting instead of buying pets from puppy mills and pet stores.

While I was looking for a dog for my neighbor I was shocked at how many purebred animals there are out there looking for a home - even more of a reason to get the word out about adopting.

Lily is one of our rescue pets, and she loves walking the neighborhood and seeing all of the kids. She's a big ham and is always up for dressing for the occasion!

The Vegas market is amazing, and I love visiting the new high-rise communities and learning more about vertical living. There are so many advantages, and I’m excited to see the latest and greatest. They are fascinated with my Lifestylist brand, and I’ll also be sharing with them what the heck a Lifestylist is and how we approach the design and marketing process.